This Sunday, February 26, The Current presents Rock the Cradle, a free day of fun for kids and their grown-ups, held at two of the state’s premier arts and cultural institutions, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and the Children’s Theatre Company. The annual kids’ event brings together families and social groups from all over the Twin Cities to enjoy music, art, books, puppetry, theater, and the community for a fun, entertaining, and engaging day. Check the website for details on planning your trip.

Join Kevin Kling at 1:00 and 2:00 p.m. as he reads his acclaimed children’s book illustrated by Chris Monroe, Big Little Brother, in the MIA’s Pillsbury Auditorium as part of the Rock the Cradle festivities.

Big Little Brotherwas ranked one of the Best Kids’ Book Apps of 2011 by Kirkus Reviews. But don’t take our word for it: for a limited time, you can download it to your iPad for free and judge for yourself!

The Big Little Brother iPad app by NPR commentator Kevin Kling and illustrated by Chris Monroe will be available for freeTuesday January 31.

“Every animation and interactive element doesn’t just enhance the app but also enhances the story itself. Drag the little boy across the screen to see his brother follow him, watch the little brother grow to be as big as his older sibling and even laugh as the little brother’s clenched fists release a trail of donut crumbs.” Digital Storytime

Remember riding in the back seat of the car with your family on road trips? Imagine having these two guys (Kevin Kling and his big little brother Steven) in your back seat when they were kids! Did your Mom or Dad “do the claw?”

Why not join in the fun? Here’s a recipe for donuts from Minnesota Eats Out. Looking back to fifties travel, the authors noted, “long bus trips were broken by short stops at roadside stations where passengers quickly purchased something to eat and drink. A donut and a cup of coffee were the usual choice, and some stops, such as the original Tobie’s in Hinkley, were famous for their old-fashioned fried dunkers such as these.”

Cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy; add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Sift dry ingredients and add alternately with milk to the creamed mixture. Stir in vanilla. Chill for 1 hour or longer. Roll dough out onto a lightly floured board to 1/2-inch thickness. Cut with a floured donut cutter. Fry in oil or lard heated to 370 degrees in a deep-fat fryer until golden brown on both sides, turning only once. Drain on paper towels. Makes about 40 donuts.

The article describes it as “an exceptionally funny and bittersweet book that any reader, young or old, who has been an older sibling will warm to.”

But there is another passage we would like to address: “The book rests on the slightly absurdist premise of a 2-year-old child growing larger than his 4-year-old brother.”

We understand why some might find this hard to believe, but, as Kevin Kling has said, Big Little Brother is “a book of fact,” and we have a video of Kevin and his actual big little brother, Steve, to prove it:

We are so happy to present our iPad app for Big Little Brother, the debut children’s book by beloved storyteller and popular commentator for NPR’s All Things ConsideredKevin Kling, illustrated by Chris Monroe of Monkey with a Toolbelt fame!

This charming interactive storybook app for kids ages 3 to 7 traces a familiar arc from sibling rivalry to brotherly love. Being an older brother has its benefits, of that there’s little doubt. But how would you feel if your little brother grew to be bigger than you? And what if he insisted on touching all your things and following you everywhere you went? It’s enough to frustrate the most even-keeled of kids.

The narrator of Big Little Brother wants nothing more than to escape his brother’s sticky fingers. Then an encounter at the Old Woman in the Shoe play area involving a bully, a plastic turkey, and his big, little brother teaches him that a pesky younger sibling can actually be a pal.

The Big Little Brother app features audio by storyteller Kevin Kling, described as “one of our great national treasures” by public radio personality Krista Tippett. Many of the intricate illustrations by Chris Monroe hold extra dialogue and audio, available at a touch: spin the Tinkertoy wheel, put the turkey in the oven, turn out the lights. Hundreds of interactive details will surprise children (and adults) through many readings of Big Little Brother.

Master storyteller Kevin Kling shares his memory of trick-or-treating as a nun, a costume he notes was ”the most frightening thing I [could] think of.” Read the excerpt from Kevin Kling’s Holiday Inn or listen to it online (Bloody Hell 2, at 19:00 minutes).

Check out what Kevin is reading now on the MinnPost Book Club Club page, and visit his website for more information on his upcoming performance at the Fitzgerald Theater, November 26-27.

City Pages blogger Monica Wright caught up with author Kevin Kling for the paper’s “Celebrity Eats” feature. Kevin makes a “mean gumbo” but also appreciates Minnesota-grown foods like sweet corn and heirloom tomatoes. While on the road, he’s a fan of the “blue-plate special.” Read the post to find out more about his favorite outstate dining establishments. He sure does savor more grub than the TV dinner pictured on the cover of his newest book, Kevin Kling’s Holiday Inn!

Experience Kevin’s unique storytelling charm at his upcoming Club Book events, August 18 at the Stillwater Library and August 26 at the Maplewood Library.

Renowned Minnesota playwright and storyteller Kevin Kling will be reading from and discussing his new book Kevin Kling’s Holiday Inn at the Minneapolis Central Library on 11/12. The doors open at 6:15, and the show starts at 7:00. And it’s free! Seating is first come, first served.

For a taste of what you’ll hear on Thursday, take a look at the book’s hilarious prologue.